The Arizona sentinel., 1887-09-17
MARK TWAIN's DOCTOR.
Gibson, tho Original of the Medical Man
 in ''InnOcents Abroad"

Gibson, the Original of the Medical Man
 in 'InnOcents Abroad"
 Dr. William M. Gibson, who died in Jamestown, Pa., not long ago, was the original of "The Doctor" in Mark Twain's "Innocents Abroad" Dr. A. Reeves Jackson. formerly of Strands burg, Pa., now of Chicago, who was member of the excursion party, has been widely credited with being the original of the character.
 'I had it from the lips of Mark Twain himself" says prominent resi- dent of this city, ''that Dr. Gibson was the doctor of the story. was edit ing the Times at Sharon, Mercer Coun- ty, at that time. It was ten years ago. Mark Twain came to that place to lect- ure, and he and became very well acquainted. Some time afterward he returned to Sharon and spent several days with me. gave dinner in his honor, and invited number of promi- nent citizens to meet him. Supposing. as matter of course, that the two fel- Iow-voyagers would be pleased to see one another and recount incidents of their trip, invited Dr. Gibson also, his residence being but a few miles from Sharon. told Twain that I had in- vited the doctor, expecting to be re- warded with great approval from the great humorist. On the contrary, he didn't look bit glad, and shaking his head, said in that mirth-provoking drawl of his:
 "Well, that's all right, I suppose, but don't know how Gibson and l will get along together. We don't speak
 "That was a setback for me, and the only hope had was that Dr. Gib- son would be moved by the delicacy of the situation, and stay away. But he didn't. He came as big as life. He didn't speak to Twain, and Twain didn't speak to him. The consequence was that what l had counted on to be one of the most de- lightful and enjoyable of occasions, and one long to be remem- bered with pleasure by my fellow citizens and myself. was stupid beyond description. The doctors presence cast damper on the whole proceeding, although he was com- panionable and desirable person to have in any gathering. Mark Twain made no speech and said nothing funny. Two or three of my friends tried to throw little spirit into the occasion by neat speeches and happy allusions. but it was of no use. The dinner was failure, and we arose from the table-at least I did-feeling Z as if the party had been funeral and that we were the chief mourners. Twain afterward told me what the trouble was between him and the doc tor As it is related in the Innocents Abroad, on one occasion during the trip a committee was appointed to present an address to the Czar of Rus sia. Mark Twain wrote the address and gave it to the committee to copy. The committee tore it all to pieces with changes of their own. Subsequently the doctor went to Twain and made modest suggestion.
 "Let me take that address ot vours,' he said, and I'll copy it off. I'll sign my name to it and you sign yours, and we'll ignore the committee and present it ourselves.
 1.-The disinterested proposition was not accepted by the humOrist, and when he wrote the book he gave the doctor away by relating the incident That made Gibson angry, and he never got over it."
 The death of Dr. Gibson brings to mind the fact that the original of Sir Oracle in "Innocents Abroad" was then and still is a resident of Harris burg in the person of the Hon. Jacob S. Holden. He was Minister to Sweden, under President Buchanan.
 Dr. Gibson left fortune of $4, OOO, = OOO He had just erected monument to himself at cost of $100, O0O.- Harris5urg (Pa.) Cor. Boston Herald.